Evangel cruises past Ezekiel in ACSC semifinals

Published 1:39 am Saturday, November 2, 2024

By Andrew Simonson

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By CHRIS MEGGINSON | Special to the Reporter

ALABASTER – Evangel Christian School defeated Ezekiel Academy 59-20 on Nov. 1 to advance to the Alabama Christian School Conference championship game for the seventh time in the last eight seasons.

The Lightning (9-2) will host East Central Home School (8-1) for the title on Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. at Clayton-O’Neal Field.

“It’s exciting for the kids,” Evangel coach Tim Smith said. “They worked really hard. A lot of people thought we couldn’t do it because we lost so many players, but these kids worked their butt off this year. Every week at practice, we’ve pushed them harder than any team we’ve had since I’ve been here. We’ve had hard days, but there’s tough days in life, and we have to deal with it and move on.”

Quarterback Kemp Swords and his offense responded to Smith’s challenge to put the game away early, scoring all 59 points in the first half. The Lightning used only 30 total plays to score its nine touchdowns.

Evangel had 495 total yards, including 390 yards rushing in the win.

“Our backs, and Kemp, were talking about how they had huge holes to run through tonight. The offensive line really played well tonight,” said Smith of the front made up by Henry Rhoads, Emerson Dollins, Wyatt Chandler and Wesley Holmes.

Swords collected 228 total yards of offense, rushing for three touchdowns and throwing three. He scored on touchdown runs of 23, 31 and 27 yards and added touchdown passes to three receivers.

After Swords’ first TD run, he found Eli Black for a 55-yard touchdown pass to take a 12-0 lead. Evangel answered to cut the score to four, 12-8. However, the Lightning responded with 27 straight points, beginning with a 65-yard TD pass to Ethan Stallings.

Will Welch, who had an opportunity to catch a 4-yard reception during the game from his younger brother Sawyer Welch, also scored on a 4-yard TD from Swords to open the second quarter. Nick Cloud scored three times with an 8-yard TD run, 17-yard reception and a 4-yard run.

Evangel pumped the brakes in the second half. Ezekiel added a scoop and score touchdown in the third quarter when the Lightning snapped the ball over its punter’s head deep in their own territory.

Black had nine tackles to lead the defense, while Cloud had five. Paul Dixon and Brayden Rives each made an interception.

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